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Tuesday, May 26

Three killed in Seward Highway crash near Mile 80

Three people died Monday afternoon in a collision between a motorcycle and a Subaru on the Seward Highway near Mile 80 in Anchorage. Police ask witnesses or anyone with dash camera footage to contact investigator Casey Johnson.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Seward Highway near Mile 80
Cover image for article: Three killed in Seward Highway crash near Mile 80

Wasilla asphalt bid leaves residents guessing which roads get fixed

Wasilla - hey, who wants to fix our roads? Residents - Which ones? Wasilla - 🤷

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
290 E Herning Avenue, Wasilla, Alaska 99654
Cover image for article: Wasilla asphalt bid leaves residents guessing which roads get fixed

Anchorage resident takes Assembly removal case to U.S. Supreme Court

Anchorage resident Dustin Darden asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block his removal from an Assembly meeting after he used public comment time to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and discuss his Christian faith instead of the streetlight ordinance being debated.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read

Wasilla pair sentenced for illegal Kodiak guiding operation

Two Wasilla men sentenced for running unlicensed hunting guide business near Kodiak that led to illegal deer and bear kills. Theodore Turgeon got six months prison and $20,000 fine, Charles Emmi got four years probation and $30,000 fine. Both banned from hunting and guiding work during supervision and must forfeit nearly $15,000 each.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read

Karluk River king salmon collapse triggers emergency fishing closures

Alaska closed king salmon fishing on Kodiak Island's westside through June 30 after Karluk River returns hit historic lows with only 93 fish last season. • River drainages stay closed through July 25 with strict gear limits and island-wide daily bag limit cut to one fish. • Commercial fishing also faces early-season closures as returns expected to remain critically low through early July.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Karluk River king salmon collapse triggers emergency fishing closures

Alaska DOT restricts truck weights on Central Region roads starting June 1

Alaska DOT limits truck weights on Central Region roads starting June 1 to protect roads during spring thaw. Most paved roads restricted to 75 percent of legal axle load, gravel roads to 50 percent. Six roads face strictest limits at 50 percent with no overloads allowed.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: Alaska DOT restricts truck weights on Central Region roads starting June 1

Kenai River king salmon fishery closed through mid-August 2026

Kenai River king salmon fishing closed May 1 through August 15, 2026 under emergency order. Third consecutive year of full closure due to stock of management concern designation. Other species fishing allowed with single-hook lures only. Nearby Kasilof River open to limited hatchery king salmon fishing.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Northern Kenai Peninsula
Cover image for article: Kenai River king salmon fishery closed through mid-August 2026

Alaska expands free quit support to iqmik, nicotine pouches

Alaska's free Quit Line now helps people quit iqmik and nicotine pouches alongside traditional tobacco, offering 24/7 coaching and free nicotine replacement therapy to all adults.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska expands free quit support to iqmik, nicotine pouches

More from Alaska

Alaska Auto-IRA Bill Lets Workers Save PFD for Retirement

Alaska passed auto-IRA bill letting workers save Permanent Fund Dividend checks for retirement. • Program auto-enrolls private workers with paycheck deductions, costs employers nothing. • Targets half of Alaska workers without employer retirement plans. • Addresses senior poverty as Social Security falls short of Alaska living costs.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska Auto-IRA Bill Lets Workers Save PFD for Retirement

Eagle River king salmon fishery closed for 2026 season

Alaska closed all king salmon sport fishing in Eagle River through July 13, 2026 due to weak fish populations and unmet escapement goals.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Eagle River king salmon fishery closed for 2026 season

Mat-Su king salmon fisheries closed amid conservation concerns

Alaska closed king salmon fishing in Susitna River, Little Susitna River, and West Cook Inlet due to low salmon productivity. Gear restrictions apply in Susitna and Little Susitna drainages when targeting other species. Eklutna Tailrace remains open for hatchery-supplemented kings. Rainbow trout and northern pike fishing available at other lakes.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Mat-Su Borough
Cover image for article: Mat-Su king salmon fisheries closed amid conservation concerns

Prince William Sound king salmon limits slashed to one fish

Alaska cut king salmon limits to one fish in most Prince William Sound waters to protect stocks with low productivity. • Terminal areas near Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega keep two-fish daily limits. • Shrimp pot limits also reduced to two per person, season runs May 1 through June 8. • Anglers must buy 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp before fishing.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Prince William Sound king salmon limits slashed to one fish

Bristol Bay Ice Lingers Late, Blocking Access to Fishing Spots

Ice and snow block most Bristol Bay fishing access as of late May, though the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says Wood River lakes and offshore halibut offer early season options for anglers who check regulations.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Bristol Bay Ice Lingers Late, Blocking Access to Fishing Spots

Alaska Native children under 10 had double the national rickets rate during 2001–2010, state report shows

Alaska Native children under 10 had rickets at double the U.S. rate from 2001 to 2010, driven by high latitude and vitamin D deficiency. • 91 percent of newborns in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta had vitamin D deficiency at birth. • Alaska now recommends 800 IU daily vitamin D for breastfed infants, double the national guideline. • Alaska Medicaid covers the higher supplementation doses.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Anchorage, Alaska
Cover image for article: Alaska Native children under 10 had double the national rickets rate during 2001–2010, state report shows

Ketchikan closes Gorge and Sayles streets through fall 2026 for viaduct replacement

Ketchikan closes Gorge and Sayles streets through fall 2026 for viaduct replacement, forcing drivers to use alternate routes while crews work six days a week.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Ketchikan closes Gorge and Sayles streets through fall 2026 for viaduct replacement

Glenn Highway bridge closure forces Birchwood detour through June 2

Glenn Highway northbound bridge closed April 18 for 45 days. All traffic uses southbound span with 11-foot lanes and 45 MPH limit through June 2. • Birchwood Loop on-ramp closed. Detour via Old Glenn Highway to next entrance. • 20 to 30 million dollar project covers bridge deck repair. Completion August 2026. • Lane configuration shifts daily by time to manage peak commuter flows.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Glenn Highway near Birchwood Loop Road, Anchorage
Cover image for article: Glenn Highway bridge closure forces Birchwood detour through June 2

About Alaska

Alaska is a United States state spanning Arctic, subarctic and coastal regions. Its communities range from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to Kodiak, the North Slope and villages such as McGrath and Adak that sit off the road system.

The Legislature, the governor's office and state agencies set policy on oil and gas, fisheries, transportation and public lands, and state boards such as the Board of Fisheries and the AIDEA board decide on catch rules, loans and investments. Cities and boroughs keep their own budgets, taxes, liquor licenses and planning decisions.

Questions that recur across the state include local budgets and tax rates, fishery catch limits, air service and ports for remote communities, and decisions on state land. Federal agencies and courts also shape life in Alaska, from air service contracts for rural towns to the certification of statewide election results.

More from Alaska

Alaska reports increase in heart valve defect, decrease in abdominal wall defect

Alaska saw more cases of pulmonary valve atresia and stenosis from 2018 to 2022, exceeding the national rate, while abdominal wall defects declined, according to the state birth defects registry.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska reports increase in heart valve defect, decrease in abdominal wall defect

Seward: Yelloweye rockfish closure extended through June 30

Alaska closed yelloweye rockfish retention through June 30 and cut other rockfish bag limits to three per day through mid-September in Resurrection Bay and the North Gulf Coast to protect spawning fish.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Seward: Yelloweye rockfish closure extended through June 30

Monday, May 25

Rookie Anchorage officer among three who fired in fatal shooting

Three Anchorage officers, including rookie Justin Miller, fired on armed 33-year-old Emil McCord near Bragaw and Reka Drive after midnight May 19. McCord died at a hospital. State prosecutors will review whether the use of force was justified.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Rookie Anchorage officer among three who fired in fatal shooting

State identifies man, officers in fatal Utqiagvik police shooting

Police in Utqiaġvik shot and killed 46-year-old Gordon Killbear Jr. on May 23 after he emerged from a barricaded room with a knife during a domestic violence call.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: State identifies man, officers in fatal Utqiagvik police shooting

Dunleavy declares disaster for Interior spring flooding

Governor Dunleavy declared a disaster for spring flooding in Interior Alaska, activating state aid programs. Residents can register for assistance through July 11.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Fairbanks, Alaska
Cover image for article: Dunleavy declares disaster for Interior spring flooding

DNR grants 4.55-acre public easement through state land in Trapper Creek

Alaska DNR approved a public easement across state land in Trapper Creek, giving landowner Troy Church legal road and utility access to his property while keeping the half-mile corridor open to the general public.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: DNR grants 4.55-acre public easement through state land in Trapper Creek

Kenai Peninsula: Two Major Rivers Closed Through Mid-July

Alaska closed Anchor River and Deep Creek to all fishing through July 15 to protect king salmon. Gear restrictions apply through end of July on these and other Kenai Peninsula streams. This is the third straight year of major king salmon fishing limits in the region.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Kenai Peninsula: Two Major Rivers Closed Through Mid-July

Cold Spring Delays Situk River Steelhead Spawning, Extends Fishing Season

Cold spring water has delayed steelhead spawning in the Situk River, keeping spring-run fish in the system longer and extending the fishing season through at least next week.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Cold Spring Delays Situk River Steelhead Spawning, Extends Fishing Season

UAF scientist leads $36K Antarctic sea ice study amid record lows

UAF sea ice scientist Andrew Mahoney will lead a year-long study of Antarctic Ross Sea ice decline funded by the National Science Foundation with $36,000, running through March 2027.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: UAF scientist leads $36K Antarctic sea ice study amid record lows

Assembly transfers nine riverfront parcels to state for erosion control

Alaska borough transfers nine riverfront parcels to the state to build erosion barriers before the Matanuska River threatens the highway.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su Borough
Cover image for article: Assembly transfers nine riverfront parcels to state for erosion control

Mat-Su Assembly blocks sales tax proposal before public hearing

Mat-Su Assembly blocked a 1.5% sales tax proposal before public hearing, voting 6-3 to remove it from the agenda. • Assemblymember Nowers wanted to pair the tax with a $75,000 property tax exemption for homeowners. • Opponents said it added taxes rather than replacing them. A different 6.5% sales tax proposal remains scheduled for June 16 hearing.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su Borough
Cover image for article: Mat-Su Assembly blocks sales tax proposal before public hearing

Kenai enacts subdivision, street design standards overhaul

Kenai City Council approved new subdivision and street design rules to speed up development review. • Minimum lot size set at 40,000 square feet for septic systems, matching borough standards. • Large subdivisions must extend water mains if public water is available within 1,500 feet. • New Street Design Manual can be updated by city staff without council approval, replacing rigid code rules.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Kenai enacts subdivision, street design standards overhaul

Kenai completes streetlight assessment, eyes $1.9M federal grant

Kenai's school bus stops lack safe lighting in winter darkness, assessment finds. City applies for 1.9 million dollar federal grant to upgrade lights and widen bike paths on two corridors. Most streetlights are aging LED units showing flicker and electrical problems. Grant decision expected next week, work would start later this year if approved.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Kenai completes streetlight assessment, eyes $1.9M federal grant

Sunday, May 24

Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts $736,000 in recurring expenses, faces $687,000 deficit

Finance Committee cut $736,000 from city budget but Juneau still faces $687,000 deficit for 2027. Travel Juneau funding dropped $400,000, museum budget cut $261,500, and landscape budget trimmed $75,000. Committee rejected cuts to affordable housing and fire station lease that would raise insurance costs. Full Assembly votes on budget June 8.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts $736,000 in recurring expenses, faces $687,000 deficit

Cordova Council debates mill rate hike as school funding deadline nears

Cordova Council must choose by June 3 between raising property taxes or using federal funds for a $181,000 school budget increase. City Manager Sam proposed raising the mill rate to 12.07, costing homeowners about $404 more yearly. Council has $436,000 to $486,000 in available federal funding but debates if one-time money can reliably fund ongoing school costs.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Cordova Council debates mill rate hike as school funding deadline nears

Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts Travel Juneau budget in 5-4 vote

Finance Committee cuts Travel Juneau marketing budget by 400,000 dollars, dropping funding 31 percent to close city deficit. • Executive director warns cut will remove Juneau from visitor marketplace for two to three years. • Full Assembly votes on budget June 8, must decide by June 15.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts Travel Juneau budget in 5-4 vote

Commission approves subdivision, rezone for Native Village of Ouzinkie tsunami shelter

Kodiak Island Borough Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a subdivision and rezone allowing the Native Village of Ouzinkie to take ownership of land holding a tsunami shelter.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Commission approves subdivision, rezone for Native Village of Ouzinkie tsunami shelter

Mat-Su Borough Platting Board approves Bartlett Hills subdivision with road waiver

Matanuska-Susitna Borough approved a four-lot subdivision near Montana Creek and waived the requirement to build an improved road, allowing access only by existing pioneer road and trail.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su Borough
Cover image for article: Mat-Su Borough Platting Board approves Bartlett Hills subdivision with road waiver

Chugach Electric wins easement for power line at Community Park Loop

Chugach Electric won an easement from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to realign a power line at Community Park Loop in Anchorage.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Chugach Electric wins easement for power line at Community Park Loop

Anchorage sees 28% drop in unsheltered homelessness as shelters reach capacity

Anchorage officials say there are fewer people sleeping unsheltered in Anchorage, but it was pretty cold all winter.

Cale Greenby Cale Green5mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: Anchorage sees 28% drop in unsheltered homelessness as shelters reach capacity

Anchorage proposes second round of child care licensing code changes

Anchorage Assembly votes May 26 on second round of child care licensing cuts to remove rules that duplicate state standards. Changes include dropping annual physicals for children, eliminating nutrition rules already covered by state and USDA, and allowing more online training. City oversees 92 licensed homes and 98 centers with no new revenue impact expected.

Cale Greenby Cale Green5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Anchorage proposes second round of child care licensing code changes

Anchorage faces $31M deficit across internal service funds

Anchorage has $31 million in deficits across internal service funds. • Whoops!

Cale Greenby Cale Green5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Anchorage faces $31M deficit across internal service funds

Data center project promises rate relief amid public concerns over noise, power

Cryptocurrency data center would generate $2 million yearly and stabilize electric rates using existing power. • Residents worry about noise, fire safety, and power availability for future housing growth. • Company says facility quieter than old cannery equipment and willing to cut operations during peak demand.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: Data center project promises rate relief amid public concerns over noise, power

Petersburg faces 53% wastewater rate hikes over 5 years for major projects

Petersburg wastewater rates to rise 53.5% over five years starting 2027 to fund three major projects worth 18.5 million dollars. • Average monthly bill jumps from 62.54 to 75.05 dollars in year one. • Assembly wants alternative rate schedules with flatter increases before voting.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: Petersburg faces 53% wastewater rate hikes over 5 years for major projects